This applies to so many artistic endeavors. When is a poem finished? What about that essay? Your book? Does that painting need a little more attention? Should I have another go at this drawing?
Is anything ever finished, really? There is always more time, more attention we could give. But sometimes we have to say, "This will do. This is good. This is what I had to give, in this moment, at this time in my life, at this stage of my ongoing evolution. This. This is enough."
How Do I Know When a Poem Is Finished?
by Naomi Shihab Nye
When you quietly close
the door to a room
the room is not finished.
It is resting. Temporarily.
Glad to be without you
for a while.
Now it has time to gather
its balls of gray dust,
....
(Read the rest here, at Poets.org.)
The lovely, warm, and welcoming Patricia Franz is hosting the Poetry Friday round-up this week at Reverie.
13 comments:
Such soothing words! And so timely...I'm in need of closing a door on a picture book draft and giving it time to gather some dust! I love Nye's words. Feels like a mother, guiding an over-tired child to bed! Thank you, Karen.
Karen, thank you for sharing the poem by Nye. I really like her work and the straight talking she does. The leaving the room / finishing the poem analogy is a good one.
Some famous poet whose name I cannot remember says a poem is finished when the phone rings. Which I love! Sometimes (most times!) you just have to STOP. Could go on forever, if not for life... thank you, Karen! xo
Karen, this is perfect timing, as I am trying to bring closure to a couple manuscripts. Thank you for sharing Nye’s poem. I also appreciate Irene’s humorous and realistic quote!
One of my grandmothers often told me to 'let things rest, give them their own time to BE'. Nye so often gives us words for living, doesn't she? This is lovely, Karen, and this week it certainly fits a few things I had going on! How did you know? I love Irene's quote, too. This is why Poetry Friday is so lovely!
Wise words. Always enjoy Nye's poems. Thank you!
I love this! And it pairs so nicely with Alan Wright's poem this week!
Oof, I needed to read this poem this week and your preface, Karen. "So you might as well/leave it that way." This final suggestion feels freeing. :)
I love the way this one is resonating with so many! Of course, Nye has a way of doing that, doesn't she? :)
Karen, I was guided to your post by fellow poets. They saw a connection between a poem I have shared and this one by the Nye poem. I very much enjoyed Naomi's poem and you also provide valuable thoughts on the matter of endings. It is ever fascinating. Ending a piece of writing, a writing project can prove difficult. Letting go of 'our darlings' is sometimes problematic.
Thank you for these important provocations.
oooof. I'm having a hard time commenting this weekend. The linky thing just doesn't get me through to the comments...but HERE I AM! This poem is such an experience isn't it? We never really know. I'm sort of stuck in the opposite...how do I know I've begun? When is this background work, the research enough? Ha! Somehow, this poem really helps. Thank you.
Alan, the serendipity of Poetry Friday offers endless delights. :) And yes, letting of "our darlings" is a lifelong challenge, isn't it?
Linda, I was having the same problem with clicking through to sites!
I know exactly what you mean. Just as it's sometimes TIME TO STEP AWAY, it is sometimes time to put pen to paper and just START. :) xo
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